Rating: Summary: Bible of weight training Review: I have lifted religiously for over 7 years now, and I have never seen a program that works as well as this one. A body's worst enemy is your muscle's ability to adapt to your workouts, and this program virtually eliminates that problem. It teaches true instinctive training, and is a must have for anyone looking to improve their lifting techniques as well as improve their physiques. You must follow the workouts to the letter, or the benefits decrease dramatically....Give it a shot, you won't be sorry!
Rating: Summary: Meatheads point of view Review: I have tried several bodybuilding and strength training programs in my time and I must say that Big Beyond Belief is by far the most superior strength training program I have ever used. My body completely transformed from the typical three to four workout per week physique (6' tall and 175lbs.) that I was strutting around with to the true meathead frame that I have acquired now (still 6' tall but now 230lbs.). I used the six day a week, one workout per day program a few years ago and I blew up in a period of four months. I went from 175lbs to 205lbs during that time and got much stronger, leaner and faster. I have yet to grow that quickly in that short of a time frame again. It was just a huge growth spurt from this superior training, my body just went into shock. The best part about that period of training was that before I read this manual from cover to cover and before I started and completed the program I actually thought I knew what I was doing. This program taught me so much about my body and what stimulates the greatest amount of muscle growth and how to acquire true strength. Since that time I have carried that knowledge with me and passed it on to a few "meathead" buddies and we all agree that this is the best workout around. I have moved on to the Titan Training manual and it too is a solid read and a good program. But now I must get back to Big Beyond Belief and re-educate myself about how to get big and strong once agian. I think applying the principles and regimen found in Big Beyond Belief and utilizing some kettlebell traning and old time strong man routines will allow me to get to 250lbs. Unfortunately I have to reorder a copy of the book because one of my meathead friends swiped it from me (cause it's that good). The only problem with this book is that the authors keep making references to bodybuilding. Although you will look pretty buff if you folllow this program, that is just an added extra. The real benefit is being big and strong. It's all about strength. I like to refer to it as a strength training program. Bodybuilding is for pretty boys with low self esteem that feel they have to get big for attention. Strength training is for true meats like myself who like to test the limits of their body and mental toughest. The kind of guys who like to drink beer and lift heavy objects for no apparent reason. Ever watch the highland games or strongman competitions....thats what I'm talking about. If you like being big and strong you need this book. If you want to sit on the preacher and do curls all day there is probably some dude at your local gym who weighs 135lbs soaking wet and charges [by the] hour to show you how to get tone and not, "too big". That just disgusts me, because whats is the point? You might as well be a veagan or something. Anyways get the book and get big. Good luck on journey to true strength, but with this book you won't need luck. I have a feeling that this review won't be posted but for whoever makes that decision.....POST IT. There are meats like myself out there who need reviews like this to know if what they are investing their hard earned dollars into is legit.
Rating: Summary: Big Beyond Bull Review: I started this program gun ho. I have been natural bodybuilding now for about 5 years. I put all out effort into this program and the only thing that I got from it was overtraining. Yeah, I only finished the first 5 weeks of the program, following everything to the T, but only found myself burning out and not at all recovering or finding my strength levels going up. The program said that you would seem like you were loosing strength at first, but your body would adapt. It never happened for me. The book and its contents make sense from a scientific point of view(except for the recovery aspect), but I honestly believe it is designed for bodybuilders on the sauce. HOw can you recover with 6 days in a row of lifting for 18-24 weeks? There is no way your body can naturally take that kind of abuse and repair itself. I would not reccomend this book for the natural body builder. Sorry, but this book just does not cut it. Big Beyond Belief is an excellent title, because it is just not believable.
Rating: Summary: Leo knows his stuff. Review: I think this is a good book for anyone who has hit a sticking point in their current program. Leo's well thought out workouts never give your body a chance to adapt to the stress you put it through. If the body can't adapt then you won't encounter a discouraging plateau. The book not only gives you the workouts, it gives you the scientific facts that are the basis of the routines. Also in this book is a section on diet, including a version of the atkins diet that is safer and easier to follow, with excellent results. This book is something that everyone who is interested in or takes part in bodybuilding/weightlifting should seriously consider reading. Overall very informative and a good read.
Rating: Summary: An awesome book Review: The best damn easiest book to follow that gets you all the results you need. I was coming out of high school football, and wasn't talented enough to play in the division 1 college i went to, but i did wanna keep lifting. I did the medium frequency weightlifting program which was once a day, 6 days a week. It was absolutely awesome, and honestly, i only stayed on it for a six week phase of the recommended 18 weeks. You MUST, as is stressed in the book, follow the recommendations of the book as closely as possible but you will most definitely get results. In six weeks i went from weighing 220 to weighing 242 with a bodyfat % that went from 22 to 19, which basically means i gained OVER 20 POUNDS OF MUSCLE in six weeks!!! It doesn't take a genius to know that's awesome. Bench press went up from 295 1 rep max to 365, Squat went from 365 4 rep max to 505, and i was curling a 45 and a 25 on each side in standing easy curl bar like if it was nothing. Needless to say i was incredibly impressed. This book is definitely not for unseasoned weightlifters, or atleast not for ones who don't have someone to stress the importance of sticking to the guidelines. Also, my power clean went up from 245 one rep max to 275 and i didn't do a single power clean during the six week phase. The most surprising thing is that each workout took less than an hour to complete with a partner and in some occassions it was under 45 minutes. It may not make sense now, but read the book. Take it with you to the john, and you'll get ass numbness from reading on for too long. It really grabs you. Lots of the stuff is stuff that most people know, but nonetheless it's good to read it all together in a coherent way that translates into MORE MUSCLE, more muscle, and more muscle. The book is called big beyond belief, but it's also awesome for Strength gains. I've never done any drugs...just protein powders and i had awesome results.
Rating: Summary: An awesome book Review: The best damn easiest book to follow that gets you all the results you need. I was coming out of high school football, and wasn't talented enough to play in the division 1 college i went to, but i did wanna keep lifting. I did the medium frequency weightlifting program which was once a day, 6 days a week. It was absolutely awesome, and honestly, i only stayed on it for a six week phase of the recommended 18 weeks. You MUST, as is stressed in the book, follow the recommendations of the book as closely as possible but you will most definitely get results. In six weeks i went from weighing 220 to weighing 242 with a bodyfat % that went from 22 to 19, which basically means i gained OVER 20 POUNDS OF MUSCLE in six weeks!!! It doesn't take a genius to know that's awesome. Bench press went up from 295 1 rep max to 365, Squat went from 365 4 rep max to 505, and i was curling a 45 and a 25 on each side in standing easy curl bar like if it was nothing. Needless to say i was incredibly impressed. This book is definitely not for unseasoned weightlifters, or atleast not for ones who don't have someone to stress the importance of sticking to the guidelines. Also, my power clean went up from 245 one rep max to 275 and i didn't do a single power clean during the six week phase. The most surprising thing is that each workout took less than an hour to complete with a partner and in some occassions it was under 45 minutes. It may not make sense now, but read the book. Take it with you to the john, and you'll get ass numbness from reading on for too long. It really grabs you. Lots of the stuff is stuff that most people know, but nonetheless it's good to read it all together in a coherent way that translates into MORE MUSCLE, more muscle, and more muscle. The book is called big beyond belief, but it's also awesome for Strength gains. I've never done any drugs...just protein powders and i had awesome results.
Rating: Summary: GOOD [GREIF}!!! Fun for all ages! Review: The first time I used this program it was a half...handown from a friend of a friend. I wasn't really doing anything but one of the Supergrowth Phases over and over for months. I was 15 and had just started lifting and didn't know any better, yet I still went from 130 lbs. soaking wet to (what I thought was big) 170 lbs. in just those short few months! I lost my half-assed version in an unfortunate washer/dryer gangbang in my gym shorts...but never forgot it's effectiveness, or it's name: "BIG BEYOND BELIEF". I spent four years tracking down this book before finding it on Amazon[.com] (where I should have looked in the first place...duh), and with the knowledge of good nutrition, and exercise practices I picked up during the search by doing other, effective yet not even in the ballpark of "BIG BEYOND BELIEF" I'm at it again with new vigor. In a mere three weeks I have gained 20 lbs. of lean muscle and experienced strength gains like never before. There are guys at my gym wasting their time with inferior programs that think I am on steroids based off the results I have experienced with "BIG BEYOND BELIEF". Bottom line: This is the single most effective program you will ever experience, hands down. This time, my copy is going in the vault, cause I'll be damned if I ever lose it again. Stop wasting your time, stop wasting your money, step up and make the best decision you have ever made for your physique, and your well-being. See ya in the gym...later.P.S. It's now July and I've gained 40 lbs. since March...this program rocks!
Rating: Summary: Not for Pussies! Review: The only bad review for this book obviously came from a guy who didn't have the nuts to try it. I too am a natural bodybuilder. I have gone through Leo's program for over a year and have made incredible gains. Yes to the naive, this may seem like a steroid monster's program. Those of us who had the testicular fortitude to try it know better. I recommend Leo and his book to anyone who wants to gain size and strength quickly. I won't kid you - it's a brutal workout program. I also recommend Leo's Titan Training System book as well. I am on that program now and it's even better. So if you can't handle these programs, grow a pair.
Rating: Summary: A nightmare! But 100% effective. Review: This book contains everything that an experienced bodybuilder needs in detail. All three aspects of bodybuilding are addressed completely training, diet, recovery, they are all here. There is nothing about the basics, exercise description or what protein, carbohydrate and fat actually are so if you are a beginner, start lower. This knowledge is already assumed. As everyone says don't change the system, just follow it. I noticed this first hand when I switched from bench press to weighted push ups. Getting your body to move through space when you train is so much more effective than lying/sitting on a bench. Squats over leg press, parralled bar dips over machine bar dips. These are all explained in the book. There's only one problem: the diet. If you can't gobble up enough calories on whichever diet (there's only 2) forget about progress. This can and will be very restricting but the results are worth it. I started at 80 kg lean muscle and after 3 years am 105 kg.
Rating: Summary: Excellent Book Review: This book is certainly worth the price. I would recommend it specifically for the seasoned, natural bodybuilder who has reached a training plateau. I purchased the book in 1995 and I still use it today for one simple reason....I continue to get good results! It's been said that the volume is far too great for most people to handle without buckets of steroids. I disagree because when using this program, you only work-out for about 45 minutes as opposed to the hours many spend in the gym, furthermore, you only do one exercise per body-part for 3-5 sets so you never tear your muscles down too far. Also, I like the fact that during each week, you train for endurance(12-15 reps), strength(10-12 reps), and power(5-8 reps). I've been using this program for about 8 years now (including some periods of lay-off) and I've increased my bodyweight from 165lbs to 210lbs in that time. Also my biceps have increased from 14.5 in. to 17 and 1/4 in. My bench has gone from struggling with 225lbs to a full set of 10 reps with 315lbs. This book lays out a clear blue-print on how to work out, all the way down to the rest intervals. What really got me hooked was the fact that I was able to make gains in size and strength immediately, even though I don't work out with a partner. I can't say enough about this book. Do yourself a favor, get it!
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